Selsey Bill Spring Summary - 2020

Foreword

By the Editors

Spring 2020 was eagerly anticipated by Peninsula birders as the winter passed, but who could have guessed it would be a spring like no other when a national emergency was declared, due to the spread of a pandemic Coronavirus disease – known as Covid-19 – resulting in unprecedented restrictions of movement for the entire UK population and the introduction of a ‘Lockdown’ on 23^rd March. This effectively meant that from that date until some weeks later, only those birders resident within the immediate environs of Selsey Bill could utilise their one-hour daily exercise allowance at the Bill. Most other Peninsula regulars were unable to visit the Bill under the Governmental rules and inevitably the number of hours sea-watched was markedly lower than in a normal spring.

Fortunately after about six weeks or so the drastic rules on travelling and the number of people allowed to be present at any place were eased somewhat; at time of writing in mid-June the rules have been eased further, although the ‘social distancing’ rule of two metres distance between people still needs to be maintained. In effect, birding observations are now almost back to normal, although another spike in the national infection rate could yet alter this.

This spring is likely to linger long in the memory – but sadly it won’t be for all the right reasons – for quite apart from the virus, the sea-watching and general migration was notably poor overall, adding insult to injury so to speak. Long periods of fine, dry and sunny weather often meant that nocturnal migrants overflew the coast and there were few if any obvious migratory falls. So, with all that in mind, we are grateful to JA for the following, read on…….

Selsey Sea-watching Spring 2020 Summary

Compiled by Justin Atkinson

Sea-watching took place every day in March, April and May. A total of 320 hours were logged. Hours watched were well down on previous years, and this has clearly affected the totals. However, this is not the full story, as many days of favourable conditions failed to produce any movement anyway. The 3^rd of May is a good example of this; perfect date, suitable weather and plenty of passage expected, but three hours of watching from dawn produced just 14 Common Scoters east, less than a hundred Sandwich Terns, and the only Common Terns seen, were ten flying west!

The first half of March was moderate west, south-west or north west winds, then from the 20^th, it was all easterlies, mainly north-easterlies and quite strong.

In April, apart from a light northwest on the 2^nd and 3^rd, southwest force 4 on the 6^th, and southwest force 6/7 on the 30^th, all other days were moderate to light east, northeast or south east.

May was similar, first two days of the month were south westerlies, and there were a few days towards the end of the month that were west, northwest or southwest, the rest were all east, southeast or northeast and fairly light.

All in all, it was a very poor spring for up-channel passage and incoming migrants.

Great Northern Diver – One or two offshore most days during the period, with a peak of seven offshore on the 4^th April. A single summer-plumaged bird was present offshore in May, until the 17^th. One flying east on the 29^th May was the last.

Red-throated Diver – The March total was 88 east, with 28 being seen on the 15^th and 24 on the 24^th. Fifty flew east in April, the peak day being the 5^th when 21 passed. Nine went east in May, the last one on the 24^th.

Spring total of 147 is low.

Black-throated Diver – Close in flocks of summer plumage birds are one of the highlights of the spring, however… The first was a single on the 23^rd March. Only four were seen passing in April, and just one in May on the 3^rd.

A spring total of six is well below average.

Diver sp – Only twenty one, “distant”, divers escaped identification.

March total of 14 east. April total of seven east. None were seen in May.

Great Crested Grebe – 1-2 offshore occasionally in March and April. Five flew east and twenty went west in March. April figures were five east and one west. One to three seen some days during May, with three offshore on the 20^th.

Slavonian Grebe – 1-4 offshore on several days in the first half of March, with eight on the sea on the 15^th. A summer plumage bird offshore on the 26^th March was the last.

Fulmar – The March total of four east and thirty west, included seven west on the 15^th.

An increase in records in April, still with the westerly bias, twelve east and 55 west included eight west on the 17^th. In May, 1-10 were seen most days. Ten went west on the 4^th May. May totals were 36 east and 76 west.

Storm Petrel – c10 birds were around a fishing boat, about 30 miles south of the Bill, on 25^th May.

Manx Shearwater – Four east and seven west on the early date of the 15^th March were the first and only March record. Only one record in April, one west on the 30^th. None were seen in May.

12 in a spring is well below the average.

Gannet – Even on a slow watch, there’s always a “Gannet east”.

March totals were, 119 east and 328 west; 194 went west on the 15^th. April totals were 1,965 east and 433 west and included 552 flying east on 17^th.  May totals were 1460 east, 520 west, with between 5 and 80 seen most days, and 273 east on the 7^th. Gannets were also seen lingering and feeding offshore, normally only ones or twos, but 40 were present on the 30th April.

Cormorant – No noteworthy counts, numbers noted being much lower than normal.

Shag – Just three records for March, two east on the 16^th, one offshore on the 17^th and another east on the 22^nd. One flew west on the 11^th April, with another offshore on the 27^th. One west on the 20^th May.

Little Egret – Two sightings in April, both of single birds on the beach on the 8^th and 11^th. Three east on the 10^th May, one on 23^rd.

Grey Heron – One on the beach on the 10^th April. One flew in off the sea from a very long way out on the 4^th May.

Canada Goose – All records were of birds flying east. Five on the 29^th March. Two, and another five on the 20^th and 29^th April respectively.

Brent Goose – March total was 1,665 east, 12 west. The highest day count that month was 762 on 15^th. April total was 1206 east, 1 west. The peak for April was 274 east on 11^th. In May, six went east on the 7^th, seven were on the sea on the 8^th and 17 flew east on the late date of the 20^th.

A flock of 23 Pale-bellied flew east on the 25^th March.

Spring total 2,901 is average.

Greylag Goose – One east on the 16^th March. Two east on the 15^th May

Shelduck – A few March records including two offshore on the 26^th. In April seven went east on the 4^th & 22^nd, and there were other odd ones and twos. Also 1-2 offshore or on the beach during the month, but despite the perfect weather and less disturbance than normal, no evidence of breeding was noted. Less seen in May with six east and eleven west.

Wigeon – Just two records, nine flew east on 21^st March and eleven went west on the 2^nd April.

Gadwall – A flock of four passed west on 22^nd March. The April total was seven east. The only other record was a flock of nine west on the 29^th May.

Teal – Nine east on the 15^th March and four east on the 5^th April, were the only sightings.

Mallard – Three present on 14^th March. Two present 22^nd April. Five east on the 20^th, and two east on the 24^th April presumed to be local birds. One east 3^rd, two east on 7^th and three east on the 25^th May.

Pintail – The March total was 15 east. Only two April records, one east on the 20^th and two east on the 27^th.

Garganey – A blank spring.

Shoveler – Nine flew east in March and three were offshore on the 15^th. Just two April records, two east on the 5^th, and another two on the 10^th. A late pair flew east on 9^th May.

A poor year for dabbling ducks…

Tufted Duck – One east on 5^th April. One east 4^th May. Two west on the 28^th May

Eider – Six east in March. April was slightly better with six east on the 4^th, nine offshore on the 16^th and two east on the 23^rd. Four east 15^th May.

Long-tailed Duck – Two east on the 20^th March. In April, one flew in from the west and landed on the sea on the 13^th, and the same again on the 17^th. What was presumably the same bird passed east on the 18^th as well. Another flew east with Common Scoter on the 24^th May.

Common Scoter – March total of 451 east, peak day being the 24^th with 95. April total was 1,255, the best day being the 5^th, when 460 went east. There were only six day counts over a 100 in April. The May total was 1031, with 226 of those passing east on the 17^th. As usual, the odd small flock was passing until the end of the month.

A spring total of 2,737 is well below the average.

Velvet Scoter – Two east on the 7^th May was the only record.

The average number of this species passing in the spring is 45; however, numbers do vary greatly, from just one in 2007 to 173 in 2003. Either way two in a spring is rubbish.

Red-breasted Merganser – March total of 154 east and 106 west. April totals were 39 east, 21 west. A few birds were offshore on occasional days up to mid-April. No notable movements really, but easterly bias noted. Three east on 3^rd May were the last.

Goosander – One west 3^rd March. Two west on the 26^th March. One east on the 3^rd April.

Kestrel – Not seen in March or April. Single birds present in May on the 3^rd, 5^th, 6^th and 24^th.

Hobby – One flying in off the sea on the average date of the 20^th April was the first. Two more flew north on the 24^th April. Two of these birds arriving at around 6.00am shows that this species often migrates nocturnally. In May, only one north on the 1^st and another on the 12^th. Five in a spring is very poor.

Peregrine – One flying in off the sea on the 26^th March had presumably been hunting offshore. Another north on the 29^th April.

Merlin – Two records in March, both of birds coming in, one on the 8^th and another on the 16^th. Whether they had been hunting offshore or were ‘true’ migrants is hard to determine. One north on the late date of the 11^th May

Sparrowhawk – Single birds were seen on six days in March, six days in April and four days in May.

Osprey – One coasted east, at 6.00am on 18^th April, being mobbed by Herring Gulls all the way. On 5^th May, one was seen lingering around mile basket rocks and catching fish, before flying inland. Another, or the same, was seen over the sea on the 7^th May.

Red Kite - One on 21^st March drifted in from the west over the Bill House before heading back west. One on 7^th May came from the west before heading off north.

Common Pheasant – One was seen in the Bill House garden on the 9^th March. A sighting on the 31^st March and 1^st April was presumably the same bird.

Red-legged Partridge – One seen in the gardens on the 18^th and 20^th March. It, or another appeared again in May, calling from a roof top on the 2^nd, walking along the beach on the 3^rd, and seen again on the 5^th.

Oystercatcher – Spring totals were 166 east and 73 west. The best day was the 24^th April with 17 east. 1-4 on the beach or shingle bar on several days during the period. Hard to determine any migration, but movements do show an easterly bias.

Ringed Plover – One was on the beach on the 1^st March, and two went east on the 30^th March. A further two west on 17^th May.

Golden Plover – Two east with other waders on the 20^th April.

Grey Plover – 200 west in one flock on the 8^th March were clearly local birds moving between the harbours. There were only two other March sightings, three east on the 21^st, and one east on the 22^nd. Only two recorded in April, one east on 24^th and one east on 25^th. 23 east in May.

Spring migrant total of 29.

Knot – Two records in March, which may just relate to ‘harbour birds’, two east on the 21^st and five east on the 30^th. Only one April record, sixteen east on the 20^th. None in May.

Spring migrant total of 16, is less than half the average.

Sanderling – Ten going east on the 21^st March, was the only record that month. In April, one east on the 17^th, and 25 east on the 24^th, were the only sightings. May wasn’t much better, only 52 east and twelve west. The peak day of the spring being the 8^th May with 29 passing east. As usual birds were still moving late May, as shown by eight which dropped onto the beach on the 31^st.

A spring total of 88 east…dire.

Dunlin – Just one record in March, two west on the 11^th. A flock of 90 going west on the 6^th April may have related to birds moving between harbours. Only five other records in April, one on the 18^th, two on 24^th, three on 25^th, all east, and five on 29^th going west. 69 birds flew east in May, 38 of those on the 4^th.

Black-tailed Godwit – One west on the 24^th May.

Bar-tailed Godwit – The first were two moving east on 21^st March. The only other records for that month were, three east on the 23^rd, and five east on the 24^th. The April total was 331 east, 117 of these moving on the 24^th. Majority of passage confined to third week in April. May total was 37, but 36 of those were on one day, the 8^th.

Spring total of 378 east, just over half the average.

Whimbrel – Two east on the 22^nd March, were the first and only March record. The April total was 175 and included the peak day, the 17^th when 37 flew east. The majority of passage was during the third week of April. May totals of 38 east and seven west. One west on the 18^th was last.

Spring total was 215 east, well below average.

Curlew – Three March sightings, one east on the 3^rd, one west on the 7^th and two east on the 22^nd. A slight passage was noted in April when 17 went east, most of these in the third week of April. One was on the beach on the 9^th April. May total was five east and four west.

Spring total of 26.

Common Sandpiper – One on the beach on 16^th and 24^th of April, and 2^nd May.

Turnstone – Spring totals 40 east, 81 west. Small numbers seen on the beach during the period, highest ‘on beach’ count was 26 on the 27^th March. No real passage observed but numbers noticeably lessened towards the end of May.

A dismal spring for waders…

Pomarine Skua – 34 were seen this spring, seven in late April and 27 in May.

The first sighting was of a distant two at 15.55 on the 24^th April, followed by a much closer bird at 17.20. On the 26^th, a bird heading east along the mile basket line at 05.42 had to be a contender for earliest (time of day) one ever (although beaten by two minutes later in the spring), another went through at 7.48. The only other April record was of another two, passing fairly close at 8.08, on the 29^th.

Conditions on the 3^rd of May looked ideal, but only produced one at 16.27 and 16.53, both distant. Another two flew east the day after at 16.17, again fairly distant. A single bird was seen on the 5^th, at 13.10. The 7^th May, National Pom Day, showed promise weather-wise and turned out to be the best day for this species this spring, with fifteen being seen. It started so well, with two close birds at 5.40. These drifted by slowly, even landing on the sea for a brief moment before continuing east. Less than an hour later, at 6.28, a superb flock of nine, fairly close in, passed east. This flock included two dark phase birds. Despite this good start, there were no further sightings until 16.04 when a single went east. The last of the day were three together at 16.54 at mile basket range. The last of the spring was a flock of seven, at 7.52, on the 16^th May, this flock also being seen off Brighton.

Arctic Skua – The first, and only March record was one flying east on the 25^th. 51 east in April and 34 in May. the peak day was the 17^th April when nine passed east. One lingered offshore for some time on the 4^th May. The majority of birds this spring were seen in the late afternoon. A distant flock of four flying east on the 24^th May had us double checking. One offshore on the 27^th of May was the last.

Spring total of 85 east, well below the average.

Great Skua – None were recorded in March, and we had to wait until the 11^th April for the first bird east. The April total was 27 east. Four east on the 28^th was the highest day count all spring. At least one was seen offshore from 21^st April, with three there on the 27^th, and still one lingering into May. A further fourteen flew east in May, the last two being seen on the 23^rd.

Spring total 41 east, below average.

A below-average spring for skuas…

Mediterranean Gull – Very few recorded in March, all apparently local birds. A definite passage in April, when 176 flew east, the biggest day being the 11^th with 34. A local movement of 156 west on the 4^th was unusual. Numbers dropped off in May with only 19 east and seven west.

Little Gull – Five east on the 25^th March was the only sighting that month. Reasonable passage early and mid-April boosted that months total to 117 east, the best day being 76 on the 5^th, when several sizable flocks passed close offshore. There were none in May.

A spring total 122 east, is above average!

Black-headed Gull – No obvious passage in March. April total was 216 east and 463 west. Although many of the easterly bound birds were migrating, the westerly ones were not, all 463 west were on the 4^th, clearly a local movement. A few small flocks, totalling 76, went through in May, 59 of those on the 9^th.

Common Gull – March total of 93 east, 40 west. April total was 199 east and 18 west. The peak day being the 11^th, with 51. Only twelve noted eastwards in May.

Spring total of 304 east.

Lesser Black-backed Gull – No doubt under recorded. One west on 7^th and 8^th of March. Seven on the 11th April, five on the 20^th and 1 on the 24^th, all east. One east on the 1^st May

Great Black-backed Gull – No notable numbers in March, April or May, although 58 did pass east on 17^th April.

Kittiwake – Spring totals of 197 east and 47 west. Peak day of the spring was the 15^th March, when 102 went east.

Sandwich Tern – Wintering birds from Chichester harbour were around in early March. It’s always difficult to ascertain the first true migrants in March, but ten east on the rather late date of the 28^th were clearly on the move. Twenty others went east that month. The vast majority of passage occurred in April, with 2,453 east, 511 of those on the 4^th. Sandwich Terns now breed in numbers in Pagham Harbour, and many of these birds feed off of the Bill and further west, making it hard to record true migrants as the spring progresses. 387 birds were recorded as ‘east’ in May, 90 of those passing on the 7^th. 15-50 seen feeding offshore most days in May. Thirty birds passing east on the 27^th appeared to be migrating.

Spring total of 2870, just below average.

Roseate Tern – No sightings this spring.

Common Tern – No March sightings this year. The first were seen on the 5^th April when 142 flew east. The best day for Common Terns specifically was the 18^th April, with 311. The April total was 924. Birds started to linger/feed offshore, albeit in smaller than usual numbers from the last week of April. 40 were offshore on the 23^rd. A paltry 234 went east in May, 164 of those on the afternoon of the 3^rd. 10-30 birds offshore in the first half of May, dropped to 1-8 feeding in the second half of the month. One moving east on the 31^st May appeared to be associated with a small late movement.

Spring total of 1,158 is disappointing.

Arctic Tern – One east on the 5^th April, is the earliest ever at The Bill. The only other sighting was of a flock of six passing east on the 11^th May.

Commic Tern – Totals for Commics include above two species as well as birds not specifically identified. An April total of 1,061 east, and May 487. The best tern day was the 3^rd of May, but all the movement was condensed into an hour and a half period in the afternoon when 376 birds moved east (212 Commics and 154 Common). 19 Commics moved east with a purpose on the late date of the 31^st May.

A very low spring total of 1,548.

Little Tern – Separating migrating birds from the Pagham tern colony birds is tricky.

74 were seen in April. One east on the 5^th equalled the earliest ever record. 27 going east on the 25^th was the peak day. Birds were seen lingering and feeding offshore from late April, with ten there on the 30^th. May passage was well down on previous years with only 25 east, ten of those being on the 6^th. 1-16 birds were seen offshore most days up to the 17^th, but only 1-5 in the second half of the month.

Spring total of 99 east, well below average.

Black Tern – Just two records, both in April, one east on the 18^th and one east on the 21^st. Quite possibly the worst ever spring for this species, the average is 37.

A pitiful spring for terns…except…

White-winged Black Tern – One flew east, at 8.15am on the 23^rd April. This bird was seen and photographed flying east from just west of the Bill, but frustratingly not seen by observers at the Bill tip.

There are two previous records – one east 18/4/59, and one east 27/4/60.

Auk sp –

March – 4 east, 8 west.

April – 9 east, 11 west.

May – 111 east, 154 west.

Guillemot – One west on 1^st March. One west on 17^th April. May total was seven east and ten west. One was offshore on the 7^th May.

Razorbill – One west on the 8^th March. One east on 17^th April. May was slightly better with 12 east and 18 west. The only offshore birds were three seen on 21^st May.

Puffin – One flew east at 08.59 on the 7^th March.

Turtle Dove – One flying in off the sea early in the morning of 20^th April was the first record since May 2007.

Great Spotted Woodpecker – One present 12^th March.

Nightjar – One was watched flying in off the sea at 08.43 on the 17^th May.

Swift – The first and only record for April was a single bird flying north on the 22^nd. Only 36 flew north in May.

Sand Martin –  One north on the 4^th May and another on the 5^th were the only records. Sad…

Swallow – Three flying north on 6^th April, were the first. Only 21 others that month. The May total was 158 north, with five on the 23^rd being the last. Local birds, or lingering migrants present in small numbers from the end of April. An incoming migrants total of 179 for the spring, is less than some single day totals in most years.

House Martin – Three north on the 11^th April were the first and only birds seen moving that month. Local birds were present from the 23^rd April, building to at least 12 present by the end of May. Thirteen came in during May, with a late arrival of a single bird on 31^st.

Tree Pipit – One north on the 26^th April. One north on the 17^th and 29^th May. Three in a spring is good these days.

Rock Pipit - One was on the beach on 15^th March.

Meadow Pipit – March total of 956 north. The majority of passage was mid-month, 422 on the 12^th and 358 on the 13^th. Passage dwindled quickly after this, as normal, although a further 53 were seen coming in early April.

Yellow Wagtail – One on the Oval field on the 9^th April was the first. Only ten others seen that month, and just two in May.

Pied Wagtail – March total of 15, all north. A further eleven north in April. One was present on the 9^th and 25^th of May.

Black Redstart – 1 present on the typical date of 21^st March.

Redstart - Only one sighted, 22^nd April.

Whinchat – One was seen on the 2^nd May.

Stonechat – One present on the 8^th and 16^th March.

Wheatear – The first was one north on the average date of the 16^th March. Six more on the 19^th were the only other records that month. April wasn’t much better with only twenty sightings…. the best days being the 19^th and 23^rd when four were along the beach. Just six in May, included a late individual on the beach on the 30^th.

Sedge Warbler – One on the 4^th May.

Common Whitethroat – First seen on the 26^th April, when one was present in the gardens. Also seen on the 9^th and 10^th May.

Blackcap – One was present in a nearby garden from late February until at least the 11^th March. One was seen coming in off the sea on 10^th May.

Willow Warbler –  One seen in the gardens on the 8^th April was the first. Only two others seen that month, and just three in May.

Chiffchaff – One present on the 6^th March was possibly just a wintering individual on the move. Three, in the gardens on the 16^th, were likely to be early migrants. Just two others in March, one on the 20^th and one seen flying in off the sea on the 23^rd. Just eight more seen in April, mostly in the gardens, but one did come in on the 18^th. One present on the 2^nd was the only May sighting.

A dreadful spring for incoming migrants…

Goldcrest – One present on 19^th March was the sole record.

Long-tailed Tit – Four were in the Bill House garden on 13^th March.

Rook – One flew in off the sea from a long way out on 22^nd March.

Raven - One west on 31^st March was the only record.

Tree Sparrow – One over on 31^st May was the first record since 2005.

Linnet – Twenty north in March and nine north in April.